UAE, India hold high-stakes talks as Middle East war jolts energy markets | | AW
UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meets India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in Abu Dhabi, April 25, 2026.
UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held talks with India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in Abu Dhabi on Saturday evening, as escalating tensions in the Middle East raise alarm over global energy security and supply chains.
The meeting comes at a highly sensitive moment for the region, following the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel and Iran in late February, and the cascading military, economic and security repercussions that have since spread across multiple countries.
According to the UAE's state news agency, discussions focused on the rapidly evolving regional situation and what both sides described as serious implications for regional and international stability, as well as mounting risks to global energy markets.
A central concern is the disruption of maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil supplies transit. Iran's temporary closure of the strait in response to mounting military and naval pressure has severely disrupted shipping, driven up oil prices and added to inflationary pressures in major economies.
The crisis has been compounded by escalating exchanges of attacks across the region, including Iranian strikes targeting US-linked assets and infrastructure in several Arab states, among them the United Arab Emirates. Some of the strikes have reportedly hit non-military and energy-related facilities, heightening concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and the risk of further escalation.
Against this backdrop, the Abu Dhabi-New Delhi talks underscore the depth of shared strategic interests between the two countries. India, one of the world's largest energy importers, relies heavily on Middle Eastern supplies, while the UAE plays a pivotal role as both a major energy exporter and a global logistics hub linking Asia, Europe and Africa.
The meeting reflects a growing recognition that the current escalation extends far beyond a regional crisis, with ripple effects across the global economy. Rising energy prices, disrupted supply chains and higher shipping and insurance costs are placing increasing strain on both developing and advanced economies.
It also highlights the UAE's broader push to deepen strategic ties with major Asian powers, particularly India, as part of a foreign policy aimed at diversifying partnerships and building multi-layered cooperation in security, energy and trade.
For India, the engagement signals a desire to play a more active role in regional security issues that directly affect its economic interests. Stability in the Middle East remains critical to New Delhi's energy security and uninterrupted supply flows.
The talks come amid growing uncertainty over the durability of a fragile ceasefire in the region, with diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran stalled and little sign of a breakthrough.
Continued tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are adding further pressure on the global economy, affecting not only oil prices but also international trade and supply chains.
In this context, the meeting between Sheikh Mohamed and Doval can be seen as part of broader efforts to manage regional risks through diplomatic coordination, even as prospects for a swift resolution remain uncertain.
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